Trip Report: The San Rafael Swell
On a recent trip to Utah we had the chance to stop by the San Rafael Swell to hunt for beautiful jasper agates. The ground is covered small broken samples. Finding the larger more colorful pieces will take a little exploring but the scenery is beautiful and the hunt is rewarding. It's worth a stop if you find yourself in southern Utah.
Where to go: From the Junction of highway 70 and highway 24 you’ll head south a few miles on 24 and turn onto a dirt road. Follow that to the end and then begin exploring. The ground is covered in the vibrant red rocks but the further out you explore the larger and more vibrant the pieces will be. The GPS coordinates are: 38.85090, -110.41279
What you’re looking for: Red, yellow and purple Jasper agates and Botryoidal red jasper.
Tools Needed: Rock pick and bucket. The area is pretty much all surface picking but some of the pieces are stuck firmly in the mud and having your pick with you can make getting them out much easier.
Road Conditions: The road out here is a dirt road suitable for most cars.
Date of Trip: 9/27/24
Safety Precautions: None
Notes: There was so much material here and it was all so stunning. I also found some amazing orange calcite crystal sample. When we got home we checked everything with a UV light and most of it lit up. That was a really fun surprise.